Dianne McDonald: True friends are worth keeping

Women really need female friends. There is something truly innate that leads women to gravitate to other women for friendships.

Dianne McDonald

Women really need female friends. There is something truly innate that leads women to gravitate to other women for friendships.

Early on, we always formed friendships – on the playground, in the sandbox and throughout schooling.

It’s harder as adults. Where do we find friends? At work? At the gym? Other social settings? The older we get, our exposure to other adults can be limited because child care and domestic responsibilities own us.

Sometimes alliances will last a lifetime.

A true friend will tell you if you have make-up, or a booger, on your face.

A true friend will stick up for you publicly, even if you are wrong, and notify you of the difference later in private.

A true friend will revel in your joys and accomplishments and support all your goals and dreams.

A true friend will commiserate with you.

A true friend will always dislike your exes and never friend them on Facebook.

A true friend will forgive you if you, inadvertently, act like an imbecile.

A true friend is called Auntie by your kids.

A true friend would bail you out of a bad date, baby-sitter no-show or even a jail cell.

A true friend understands that time and space may separate you, but it seems timeless whenever you reconnect.

Remember to value your true friendships. Fair-weather friends will come and go, and there are false friendships that you can only count on to let you down.

As a woman in our society, there could be times of feeling overwhelmed and inwardly alone amid the chaos of career, motherhood and a busy social schedule. Remember there is a world filled with solidarity. It is a phone call or an e-mail away. Be the friend to reach out; don’t wait for the call. Life is too short for silly mind games and stubborn grudges.

Patriot Ledger contributor Dianne McDonald is a working mother who lives in Marshfield, Mass., with her husband and five kids. This column is the opinion of the writer and not of the newspaper.